Business

HILLSVILLE — Carroll County Chamber of Commerce capped off a busy year with its annual meeting at Cabo’s on Dec. 6.
Executive Director Sherry Shaffner handed out awards and members elected a slate of officers.
Shaffner revealed to the 26 dinner attendees gathered in the banquet room on the second floor of Cabo’s that Hillcrest Florist is the member of the year.

HILLSVILLE — Businessmen with hotels at Interstate 77’s Exit 14 want to see more nationally known restaurants as their neighbors, and they approached Hillsville Town Council on Monday for help in making that happen.
For their part, town officials answered that certain barriers for future development have fallen after Hillsville annexed the busy I-77/U.S. 58 interchange from Carroll County last year, and that government and businesses need to work together to ensure that the area continues to grow.

WOODLAWN — Jeff Johnson has expanded his family of companies to include a different kind of vehicle.
“It is a little bit of a departure,” Johnson said. “You’re still talking about vehicles and a type of product that’s vehicle-related.”
Johnson Family RV, with its selection of Coachmen motorhomes and Keystone travel trailers, joins his two car dealerships nearby on U.S. 58, a business in which he recently celebrated his 20th anniversary.

HILLSVILLE — The newly hired contractor on Carroll County’s natural gas line project plans to begin installation next week.
Carroll’s Industrial Development Authority took on the natural gas project as an effort to retain the Mohawk plant as part of the local business community.
Two bids came in from certified contractors before the regular October IDA meeting last Thursday, which was delayed from last Monday in order make a decision on awarding the installation work, according to County Administrator Gary Larrowe.

HILLSVILLE — The executive director of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce has accepted a full-time position with a community service organization in Sparta, N.C.
However, she will still steer the chamber even as she assumes her new job.

HILLSVILLE — Carroll County Chamber of Commerce officials warn that their organization’s name is being used in a phone scam.
Do not turn over any personal information to anyone that calls in an effort to place advertising on recyclable bags through the chamber, Executive Director Sherry Shaffner warns.
That is not something that the chamber is doing.
Shaffner has so far received two calls and an e-mail informing her of the scam.
The e-mail said that a member received a call from some on who identified herself as “Tori. “

RICHMOND — A national insurance company mascot will beckon to visitors at the rest area on Interstate 77 in Lambsburg and other such facilities around the state, due to increasing corporate sponsorship opportunities under Gov. Bob McDonnell.
After then-Gov. Tim Kaine closed some of the state rest areas in a round of cuts during his last budget, McDonnell reversed that decision as one of his first acts when he won the state office.

While Squealers restaurant, formerly located on East Stuart Drive in Galax, had to shut its doors last week, owner Mark Davis said his catering business and Squealers Cafe at the Crossroads Institute are going strong.
For the past two years, Davis’ restaurant has offered some delicious helpings of barbecue, ribs, beef brisket, chicken and burgers. But in a tough economy and with the competition of other area restaurants, he said it just became too difficult to remain in business.